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The Most Innovative Things Happening to Alleviate Poverty

By Shaherazad Umbreen

February 03, 2018

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Official statistics about global poverty are shocking. According to some experts, about half of the world’s population survives on less than £3 per day, and that means more than three-billion people live below the breadline. UNICEF released a statement recently that said no less than 22,000 children die each day around the world due to poverty.

Here, you will find some examples of innovative concepts that help to make a difference and give more people more hope for a better future. With a bit of luck and good gumption, reading about these programs and concepts will give you some ideas about how you can get involved to improve the situation for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

GlobalGiving

"Empowered Crowdfunding"

GlobalGiving is an organisation set up to help local nonprofits in the developed and developing world gain access to the funding, tools, and training they require. It’s a crowdfunding community committed to assisting people to achieve their dreams of providing basic necessities for their community and working their way above the breadline. GlobalGiving connects nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country to ensure people have the best chance of success.

From Afghanistan to Zambia, GlobalGiving provides a lifeline to those who want to improve their lives and make the world a better place for everyone. Since 2012, the website has helped to raise more than £300 million from almost 800,000 donors in hundreds of countries.

There are currently around 19,000 different projects that require support, and donations are safe and secure. Just check out the website if you want to see some of the projects you can get involved in! The best thing is that this site allows recipients to make their own decisions about how donations are used, making the funds sustainable for the long term.

Lendwithcare

"Make a Loan, Save a Life"

Lendwithcare is a microfinance loan organisation created by the development charity CARE International UK. Since 2010, the platform has helped individuals and entrepreneurs to send crucial funding to innovators in developing nations. Lots of people in the third world have excellent business ideas that could contribute to providing clean water and food, or even just some capital for their local communities.

Thanks to Lendwithcare, people willing to make a loan can make a contribution that will set third world innovators off on the right track. As the website states, a small loan of just £15 from you could assist people in countries like India and Ghana to get their business off the ground and make something more of their lives. Opening an account on the site only takes a few minutes, and you can start lending within the hour. So, what’s stopping you from getting involved or even just learning more?

Safari Seat

"Wheelchairs for all Terrains"

Most people rightly think that products like wheelchairs should be freely available for those who need them. Sadly, many people living in poverty in third world countries never get to experience these innovations. Also, most wheelchairs are designed for use on flat surfaces like tarmac footpaths and tiles shop floors. So, what happens if you live in an impoverished Pakistani village where there aren’t any smooth footpaths, and the roads are less than smooth? Well, the truth is that disabled people in some countries have a much lower life expectancy compared to their healthy counterparts.

The Safari Seat is a beautiful new product that aims to turn things around. The low-cost, all-terrain product is produced in the third world using bicycle parts, and it’s set to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people, thus giving them the chance to live happier lives.

Akon Lighting Africa

"Bring Light to Everyone"

When most people think of the singer Akon, they remember an annoying song that bounces around their heads for weeks. However, in 2014, the singer created his charity called Akon Lighting Africa, and he began opening solar academies that teach local people how to produce solar power.

It is estimated that Akon’s efforts will eventually help to bring electricity to more than 600 million people on the African continent during the next few years. The most significant question people need to ask themselves is why someone hasn’t thought of this before. Whatever you might think about the “Smack That” and “Lonely” music star; you have to admit that his heart is in the right place, and it could be argued that he’s probably going to improve more lives than any other person during the last 100 years.

Vertical Farming

"Grow Your Own Indoors"

One of the main symptoms of poverty relates to a lack of food for the population. Due to droughts and political issues, people living in many countries have suffered considerably during the last fifty years due to lack of access to fertile land.

Thanks to innovations in hydroponics and production strategies, that could soon change for the better. Two Kenyan agricultural researchers, Nancy Karanja and Mary Njenga are working towards implementing a new system of vertical farming that could solve some of the world’s hunger problems. The concept is simple. People will grow their food indoors using advanced scientific methods. It is hoped the idea will protect needy families from rising agricultural costs and ensure everyone has enough to eat.

Save the Children

"A Lasting Difference"

Many charities provide financial support and assistance to impoverished people around the world. However, Save the Children is one of the most widely respected organisations thanks to their commitment and hard work. The company aims to stop hunger in Africa altogether in the near future, and hundreds of thousands of empathetic people donate their money to the cause every single year.

Save the Children encourages donors to become a child sponsor, and that means those who contribute know where their money's going and who it is supporting. The team at Save the Children fund some of the most advanced and useful teaching programs in the third world. If you don’t have enough time to make a difference; donating even just a couple of pounds to this cause will help to alleviate poverty.

Penny Appeal

"Small change, big difference"

Penny Appeal was set up in 2009 to provide poverty relief across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa by offering water solutions, organising mass feedings, supporting orphan care and providing emergency food and medical aid.Since then they have transformed lives and empowered communities around the world, helping to break the poverty cycle and build brighter futures.

The charity offers some great gifts in kind such as the “Honey Production Kit” which helps people in poverty to set up a honey bee business.A great gift to give to your Valentine this year perhaps?

Good Deed Heels

"Women Empowering Women"

Shoes by Shaherazad is a "for purpose" business and luxury shoe design brand from the UK. The brand donates 100% of the profits from the business to help women living in poverty around the globe. During the last twelve months, this concept has assisted in supporting no less than 1000 women living in places like Pakistan, Peru, Kenya, Palestine and Sudan. Whilst that’s an achievement thanks to our customers, wewant to help more women, and have set ourselves a goal of supporting more than 2000 women during the next twelve months.

You can see from the examples in this post, that there are lots of change making and innovativeorganisations out there who want to put an end to global poverty and inequality. If you wish to play a role in improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable people on earth, these organisations and concepts are an excellent place to start.

Of course, you could come up with an original idea yourself and become a change maker too! There are more than enough resources for everyone on this planet.

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